Pneumatic dispatch system



March 1933. w. J. TAYLOR ET AL 1,900,592

PNEUMATIC DI SPATCH SYSTEM W if??? 6 k 5 1% z &y %5,

March 7 3- w. J. TIAYLOR ET AL PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed March 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jj /lar R ff March 1933- w. J. TAYLOR ET AL PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed March 8, 1952 s Sheets- Sheet 3 LL [722467210715 Quiz/mm J: 72

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Patented Mar. 7, 1933;

UNITED S TES rATENrorric-j WILLIAM J'. TAYLOR .AND CLARK T. CUTTING; F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 'OF MASSA- GHUSETTS PNEUMATIC DISPATGH SYSTEIVL Application filed March 8, 1932. Serial No. 597,441.

This invention relates to an improvement in a pneumatic dispatch system and more particularly to such a system having switching mechanism whereby carriers may be deflected to the desired stations, such switching mechanism being controlled by the carriers themselves.

As illustrated in the drawings the transmission tube used in this system is circular in cross section and the controlling means carried by the carriers project laterally therefrom. It is accordingly necessary with such tubes, because of the tendency of the carriers to rotate upon their own axes as they travel through the systennto insure that each carrier shall travel in the proper position through each switching section by orientat ingthe carriers as'they approach the switching sections.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means associated with each switching section for orientating the carriers. A further object of this invention is to provide means in the switching mechanism and con trol means on the carriers, which means coact whereby the destinations of the carriers are definitely assured. Other objects will appear from an examination of the following description taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part thereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one type of switching section and branch tube of a system embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, with parts broken away, of another type of switching section and branch tube of such a system;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a carrier adapted to be used in the system;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the carrier head taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar view in a plane at right angles to the plane of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a carrier traveling through the switching section, which carrier is engaged by the switchalong the. lines .9 of Figs. 1 and 2; I

Fig. 10 isa sectional view takenalong i 7 line 10-10 of Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional views illus grating another form of the orientating sec-,

Fig. 13 is a side View of a preferred form of station terminal, the carrier guides being omitted;

Fig. 1 1 is a sectional view of such terminal taken along the line 1 l14 on Fig. 13; and Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are rear, side and plan elevations of a carrier guide unit intended to be used with such terminal.

This invention will be described with reference to the type of switching section 10 shown in Fig.2, but it will be understood that the switching section 10 shown in Fig. 1 functions similarly and embodies the same form of switching means. The switching section 10 illustrated in Fig. 2 is of the U-type, the carrier entering such section from the main tube 11 through the section 12 which acts to orientate the carriers, as will be described later. From the section 10 extends a branch tube 13 by which the carriers deflected by the switching mechanism are transported to a receiving terminal or along a branch line to any desired destination. As shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, the switching section 10 comprisesarcuate portions connected by diametrically opposite channels 16 in which a re mounted guide rails '17 preferably U-shaped' in cross section. The side walls 18 of the guide rails 17 vary in height as suggested in Figs. 7 and 8.- The orientating'section 11, as shown in Fig. 9 has similar arcuate portions connected by troughs 21. The troughs 21, asshown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 are curvedthrough-220 for a purpose to be described later and terminate .(see Fig; 5) centrally of the troughs 16 in the switching sections and in alignment with the guides 17 mounted therein.

The carriers 25 employed in this system may be of any well known type having heads 26 and skirts 27 at each end. Reciprocally mounted in the heads 26 are pins 28 carried by a transverse sleeve 29. The pins 28 terminate in a tip 30 of reduced cross section, and the sleeves 29 are provided with inturned annular flanges 31 which limit the outward movement of the pins 28. The pins 28 are preferably hollow, as illustrated in Fig. 3,,

and receive an expansion spring 32 which acts to hold the pins 28 normally in contact with the flanges 31. The pins 28 may be of any'desired length, as suggested in dotted lines in Fig. 3, it being understood that the length of the pin tips have a definite relation to the height of the walls 18 of the guide troughs 17.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the troughs 16 extend from one end to the other of the switching section and leading from them into the branch tubes 13 are troughs 35. The guides 17 are curved and enter the troughs 35 so that those carriers, the pins of which enter the guides (see Fig.7 for example), are deflected to the branch tube while those carriers, the pins of which do not enter the guides (see Fig. 8 for example), are not deflected. The troughs 16 may be reduced in the depth as by filling (see Fig. 10) so that the pins will be forced back gradually as the carriers approach the cylindrical section of the main tube.

The main portion of the tube 11 is cylindrical and obviously the pins 28 will be forced by the wall of the tube into the carrier heads. WVhen, however, a carrier enters the orientating section 11 on its way to a switching section 10, and the pins come into alignment with the troughs 21, the springs 32expand, so that the tips 30 will enter the troughs. Since these troughs make a turn of 180, it will be apparent that regardless of the location of the carrier pins when the carriers enter the orientating section 11, they will, during the passage of the carriers through the section, enter the troughs 21 and be fed thereby into the troughs 16 of the switching section. As shown in Fig. 6 the troughs 21 are narrower than the troughs 16 and are aligned with the guides 17. If the walls 18 of the guides are of such height that the pins project between them (see Fig. 7), the carrier provided with suchpinswill obviously be deflected into the branch tube 13. On the other hand, carriers, the pins 28 of which do not project between the side walls 18 (see Fig. 8), will not be deflected but will continue their travel through the main tube. The pins 28 may be of different lengths, thus permitting their use in a system having a plurality of switching sectlons. Four lengths of pins are suggested in Fig. 4, but obviously this number may be increased or diminished as required. It will be understood that Fig. 8 illustrates the guides in the first switching section, and Fig. 7 illustrates the guides at the last switching section.

In place of the guide troughs 21 in the orientating section 12, which are curved through 220 the section 12 may be provided with the guiding means shown in Figs. 11 and 12. These guiding means comprise a diametrically opposed pair of troughs 40 which extend longitudinally of the section 12 and into which lead a plurality of branch troughs 41. The outer ends of the troughs 41 terminate substantially midway between the troughs 40 and preferably overlap slightly as shown in Fig. 11 to avoid the possibility that the carrier pins might pass through the section 12 without entering any of the troughs 41. Obviously when the pins of a carrier enter any of the troughs 41 they are caused to follow the troughs to the troughs 40 thus orientating the carrier so that the pins will enter the troughs 16, and be brought properly positioned to the station terminal.

Figs. 13 to 17 illustrate a typical station terminal of the preferred type comprising a station housin 50 having openings 51 in opposite sides t ereof and guide units 52 which are mounted upon the housing to cover the openings. In the walls of the housing are provided troughs 53 which coincide with and form extensions of the troughs 16 of the U-shaped section shown in Fig. 2 or, in case such section is omitted, of the troughs 21 of the section 12 or of the troughs 40 of the section 12. The ends 54 of the troughs are contracted to insure the location of the carriers and the ends 55 gradually decrease in depth so that the pins are forced into the carrier heads before the carriers enter the tube 11. Leading from each trough 53 to the station outlet are branch troughs 56. The openings 51 enter the troughs 53 between the ends 53 and the junctions with the troughs 56. l

The guide units 52 each comprise a plate 57 and a guide member 58 supported thereon and extending into the trough 53. The member 58 includes a base 60 which rests against the plate 57 and is of substantially the same thickness of the shoulder 61 which supports the plate 57 and a guiding flange 62. The flange 62 has a curved face 63 and is at its upper end of such thickness that the face forms a continuation of the wall of the end 54 of the trough. The units are secured to the wall of the housing by screws, rivets or other suitable means.

As suggested by dotted lines in Fig. 17 the flanges 62 vary in height in the same manner and for the same purpose as do the side walls 18 of the rails 17 previously described. Obviously the housing of each terminal may be provided with guide units having the flanges 62 of the proper height so that the pins of the carriers destined to be deflected at such terminal will engage the face 63 of the unit and be drawn thereby into the troughs 56 of the terminal. The operation and function of systems provided with such terminals is the same as that previously and hence will not be repeated.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described we are not limited thereto sinceother embodiments may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a pneumatic dispatch system, a main carrier transmission tube, a branch transmission tube leading therefrom, a switching section in the main tubeat the juncture of the branch and main tubes, means in said section for deflecting certain carriers to the branch tube and an orientating section through which the carriers pass in transit to the switching section and by which the carriers are shifted into such position that those to be deflected are acted upon by such means.

2. In a pneumatic dispatch system, a main carrier transmission tube, a branch trans mission tube leading therefrom, a switching section in the main tube at the juncture of the branch and main tubes, means in said section for deflecting certain carriers to the branch tube and an jorientating section through which the carriers pass in transit to the switching section and including means by which the carriers are shifted into such position that those to be deflected are acted upon by the deflecting means in the switching section.

3. In a pneumatic dispatch system .by which cylindrical carriers having laterally projecting pins are transmitted, a main carrier transmission tube including a switching section, a branch transmission tube leading from the main tube at the switching section, the switching section including a trough adapted to receive pins of the carriers, and an orientating section through which the car riers pass in transit to the switching section and by which the carriers are rotated upon their axes to insure the entry of the carrier pins in the trough of the-switching section.

4. In a pneumatic dispatch system by which cylindrical carriers having laterally projecting pins are transmitted, a main carrier transmission tube including a switching section, a branch transmission tube leading from the main tube at the switching section, the switching section including a trough adapted to receive pins of the carriers, an orientating section through which the carriers pass in transit to the switching section and by which the carriers are rotated upon their axes to insure the entry of the carrier pins in the trough of the switching section the orientating section by which the carriers at. least one of the carrier section through which the carriers pass in T 2 mail and means in the switching section for deflecting-into the branch tube certain of the carriers, the pins of which are in the trough. 5. In a pneumatic dispatch system by which cylindrical carriers having laterally projecting pins are transmitted, a main transmission tube including :a switching section, a :branch transmission tu'beleading from the main tube at the switching section, a trough in said switching section adapted to receive $5 at least one of-the'carrier pins, an-orientati ng section through which the carrierspass in transit to the switching section, :means in the orientatingsection by which the carriersare rotated sothat pins thereonenter the trough of the switching section and means in the switchin section which engage and deflect certain or said carriers to the branch tube.

6. 'In a pneumatic dispatch system by which cylindrical carriers having laterally 5 projecting pins are transmitted, a main transmission tube including a switching section, a branch transmission tube leading "from the main tube at the switchingsection, a

receive a-t-least one of the carrier pins, an orientating section through which the carriers pass in transit to the switching section, means in the or-ientating section by which troughin said switching section adapted to the carriers are rotated so that pins thereon enter the trough of the switching section and means in theswitohing section which engage the pins in the trough ofcertain carriers and deflect such carriers tothe branch tube.

7. In a pneumatic dispatch system by which cylindrical carriers having laterally projecting pins are transmitted, a main transmission tube including a switching section, a branch transmisison tube leading from the main tube at the switching section, a trough 7195 in said switching section adapted to receive at least one of the carrier pins, an orientating section through which the carriers pass in transit to the switching section, .means in certain carriers and deflect such can r,

branch transmission tube leading from the main tube at the switching section, a trough in said switching section adapted to receive pins, an orientating transit to the switching section, means in the orlentating section by which the carriers are rotated-sothat pins thereon enter the V :anda-guide 1 11113118 trough of the switching section 1 trough; of the switching section,

which'engage the pins of certain carriers and deflect such carriers to the branch tube.

In a pneumatic dispatch system by which cylindrical carriers having: laterally projecting pins are transmitted, a main transmission tube, including a switching section, a branch transmission tube leading from the main tube at the switching section, an orientating section through which the carriers pass in transit to the switching section, both said sections including troughs which receive the pins laterally projecting from the carrier said troughs being in alignment and the troughs in the orientating section being curved to insure that the carrier pins enter the troughs in the switching section and means in said switching section which engage and deflect certain of such carriers to the branch tube.

10. In a pneumatic dispatch system by which cylindrical carriers having laterally projecting pins are transmitted, a main transmission tube including a switchingsection, a

branch transmission tube leading from the main tube at the switching section, an orientating sect on through which the carriers pass in transit to the switchingsection, both said sections includingtroughs which receive the pins laterally projecting from the carrier, said troughs being in alignment and the troughs in the orientating section being curved to insure that the carrier pins enter the troughs in the switching section and guide railsin the switching section which engage pins on certain carriers only and deflect such carriers to the branch tube.

V 11. In a pneumatic dispatch system by which cylindrical carriers having laterally projecting pins are transmitted, a main transmission tube including a switching section, a branch transmission tube leading from the main tube at the switching section, an orientating section through which the carriers pass in transit to the switching section, both said sections including troughs which receive the pins laterally projecting from the carrier, said troughs being in alignment and the troughs in the orientating section being curved to insure that the carrier pins enter thetroughs in the switching section, and guide rails in the troughs of the switching sections which engage the pins of certain carriers only and deflect such carriers to the branch tube. V

12. In a pneumatic dispatch system by which cylindrical carriers having laterally projecting pins are transmitted, a main transmission tube including a switching section, a branch transmission tube leading from the main tube at the switching section, an orientating section through which the carriers pass in transit to the switching section, both said sections including troughs which receive the pins laterally projecting from the carrier,

gage the pins of certain carriers only and H deflect such carriers to the branch tube.

13. In a pneumatic dispatch system by which cylindrical carriers having laterally projecting pins are transmitted, a main transmission tube including a switching section, a branch transmission tube leading from the main tube at the switching section, an orientating section through which the carriers pass in transit to the switching section,

cluding troughs, which receive the carrier pins and are in alignment, and said branch tube including a trough which branches from the trough of the switching section, and

means in the switching section for causing the 1 said switching and orientating sections in- T35 troughs, which receive the carrier pins and are in alignment, and said branch tube including a trough which branches from the trough of the switching section and guide rails in the troughs of the switching section and branch tube, the trough of the orienta'ting section being curved to insure that pins of all the carriers enter the trough of the switching section and that pins of certain carriers enter the guard rails and are deflected thereby to the branch tube. 5

Signed by us at Syracuse, N. Y., this tenth day of February, 1932.

WILLIAM J. TAYLOR.

CLARK T. CUTTING. 

